Par El Mehdi Foum-Errabah, Fondateur & CEO
Wingfoil combines a hand-held inflatable wing with a hydrofoil board. This glossary defines 50 essential terms used in wingfoil instruction at Essaouira Surf Camp School — Morocco's leading wingfoil destination with flat-water bay conditions.
50 Wingfoil Terms
- Wing
- Inflatable hand-held sail that generates power without lines or a mast
- Foil
- Hydrofoil underwater wing that lifts the board above the water surface
- Mast
- Vertical strut connecting the board to the underwater foil wing
- Fuselage
- Horizontal bar connecting the front and rear foil wings
- Front wing
- Larger underwater wing providing primary lift
- Stabilizer
- Smaller rear foil wing providing pitch stability
- Board
- Short board with foil mount — typically 4–6 feet for wingfoil
- Pump
- Manual inflation of the wing using a hand or electric pump
- Leash
- Safety cord connecting rider to wing or board
- Power zone
- Area downwind of the rider where the wing generates maximum pull
- Neutral zone
- Wing position overhead with minimal pull — rest position
- Flag out
- Depowering the wing by releasing the rear handle — safety position
- Water start
- Getting on the foil from a floating position in the water
- Pumping
- Rhythmic wing movement to generate power before foiling
- Takeoff
- Moment the foil lifts the board above the water
- Flight
- Riding elevated on the foil above the water surface
- Touchdown
- Board returning to water contact after foiling
- Jibe
- Turning downwind by switching wing and feet position
- Tack
- Turning upwind through the wind eye
- Gybing
- Alternative spelling of jibe — downwind turn
- Switch stance
- Riding with opposite foot forward
- Toeside
- Riding with weight on toes, board edge angled
- Heelside
- Riding with weight on heels — default stance
- Freefly
- Riding without being hooked to harness — wing held by hands
- Dock start
- Starting from a pontoon or beach without water start
- Beach start
- Starting from shallow water standing on the board
- SUP foil
- Stand-up paddleboard adapted with a hydrofoil
- Downwind
- Direction with the wind — easiest for beginners
- Upwind
- Direction against the wind — requires edge control
- Apparent wind
- Wind felt while moving — combination of true wind and rider speed
- True wind
- Actual wind speed and direction measured stationary
- Luffing
- Wing flapping when underpowered or misaligned to wind
- Overpowered
- Too much wind for wing size — difficult to control
- Underpowered
- Insufficient wind to maintain flight on foil
- Wing size
- Surface area in m² — 3m for strong wind, 6m for light wind
- Foil size
- Front wing area — larger = earlier lift, slower; smaller = faster
- Aspect ratio
- Wing span vs chord — high AR = efficient, low AR = manoeuvrable
- Rig
- Complete setup: wing + board + foil + leash
- Session
- Single outing on the water — typically 2–3 hours
- Spot
- Location for wingfoiling — flat water preferred for learning
- Flat water
- Calm water without waves — ideal for first flights
- Chop
- Small irregular waves — makes takeoff harder
- Swell
- Ocean groundswell — advanced wingfoil wave riding
- Offshore wind
- Wind blowing from land to sea — dangerous, avoid
- Onshore wind
- Wind blowing from sea to land — safe for beginners
- Side-shore
- Wind parallel to beach — ideal for wingfoil
- Thermal wind
- Local heating wind — Essaouira alizés are trade thermals
- Alizé
- NNE trade wind dominating Essaouira April–October
- BPJEPS
- French state coaching diploma held by our wingfoil instructors
- Progression
- Typical 6–9 hours to basic riding at Essaouira Surf Camp School